Physician Assistant

A Physician Assistant earns a median salary of $126,010 per year in the United States, typically requiring a master's degree.

Physician assistants (PAs) practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients, as directed by a physician.

$126,010

Median Salary

$134,831

Mean Salary

168,300

Total Employment

28%

Job Growth

Much faster than average

Master's degree

Education

52,173

Openings/Year

Figures on this page are modeled estimates built from public BLS and NCES occupational and institutional categories, not official government reporting. Use them as directional guidance, not exact figures.

Salary Distribution

10th Percentile

$75,606

25th Percentile

$98,288

Median

$126,010

75th Percentile

$161,293

90th Percentile

$211,697

Salary Map

HI WA MT ND MN WI MI

VT NH ME OR ID SD IA IL IN OH PA NY MA CT CA NV WY NE MO KY WV VA NJ RI DC AZ UT CO KS AR TN NC SC MD DE

OK LA MS AL GA FL

Lower Mid Higher

Top Employing States

California

23,555

Texas

12,086

Pennsylvania

8,908

New York

8,474

Illinois

7,944

Salary by State

#	State	Median Salary	Mean Salary	Employment	Loc. Quotient
1	Hawaii	$265,195	$288,000	987	1.34
2	District of Columbia	$194,512	$221,846	438	1.25
3	Massachusetts	$190,145	$214,443	2,537	0.71
4	New Jersey	$189,386	$199,290	4,005	0.85
5	California	$181,548	$200,638	23,555	1.17
6	Alaska	$164,685	$174,757	291	0.78
7	New York	$163,970	$178,770	8,474	0.83
8	Colorado	$163,373	$172,612	2,344	0.80
9	Oregon	$161,234	$172,758	1,881	0.87
10	Rhode Island	$156,321	$175,593	384	0.69
11	Washington	$150,034	$167,458	3,303	0.84
12	Delaware	$148,883	$165,744	350	0.70
13	Arizona	$143,930	$158,652	3,117	0.86
14	Vermont	$141,444	$153,363	265	0.81
15	Maryland	$139,910	$152,716	3,592	1.15
16	Nevada	$138,613	$152,949	1,896	1.20
17	Connecticut	$137,906	$146,028	1,855	1.01
18	Utah	$137,191	$153,153	2,201	1.32
19	Minnesota	$136,965	$147,865	3,586	1.24
20	Maine	$134,269	$146,356	615	0.89
21	Wyoming	$132,628	$142,221	321	1.10
22	North Carolina	$132,394	$151,869	6,979	1.32
23	New Hampshire	$130,035	$148,582	823	1.18
24	Florida	$127,922	$146,478	7,581	0.69
25	South Dakota	$127,390	$145,727	293	0.65
26	South Carolina	$125,189	$143,764	1,967	0.76
27	Iowa	$124,852	$136,018	1,729	1.07
28	Idaho	$123,019	$130,888	980	1.05
29	Tennessee	$122,676	$130,923	4,454	1.27
30	Wisconsin	$122,248	$130,000	4,000	1.34
31	Pennsylvania	$121,552	$131,671	8,908	1.35
32	Nebraska	$120,967	$132,315	1,144	1.15
33	Louisiana	$120,849	$137,064	3,301	1.40
34	Virginia	$120,188	$132,967	5,791	1.32
35	Ohio	$118,722	$126,032	7,841	1.31
36	Missouri	$116,462	$128,171	4,281	1.37
37	North Dakota	$116,351	$125,520	405	1.02
38	Illinois	$113,799	$125,530	7,944	1.22
39	New Mexico	$113,367	$120,257	940	0.87
40	Kansas	$112,314	$126,935	1,647	1.10
41	Montana	$111,470	$127,961	529	0.96
42	West Virginia	$109,897	$125,138	678	0.74
43	Oklahoma	$109,306	$116,076	1,410	0.70
44	Kentucky	$107,634	$123,047	2,103	0.92
45	Texas	$106,643	$122,304	12,086	0.82
46	Michigan	$106,001	$115,634	5,098	1.00
47	Indiana	$105,522	$113,935	2,977	0.86
48	Georgia	$104,120	$112,611	6,405	1.18
49	Mississippi	$103,895	$109,187	1,005	0.67
50	Arkansas	$103,598	$111,955	1,156	0.76
51	Alabama	$99,955	$111,309	2,496	0.98

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Physician Assistant?

The median salary for a Physician Assistant is $126,010 per year nationally. Salaries range from $75,606 (10th percentile) to $211,697 (90th percentile).

What education do you need to become a Physician Assistant?

A Physician Assistant typically requires a master's degree.

What is the job outlook for Physician Assistants?

Employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 28%, described as much faster than average. About 52,173 openings are expected each year.

Which state pays Physician Assistants the most?

Hawaii pays the highest median salary for physician assistants at $265,195 per year.

Colleges to Consider for a Career as a Physician Assistant

Yale

$64,700/yr in-state tuition

5% acceptance rate

Princeton

$59,710/yr in-state tuition

4% acceptance rate

Columbia

$65,524/yr in-state tuition

4% acceptance rate

Related Careers in Healthcare

Medical Assistant

$37,700/yr median

Much faster than average growth

Registered Nurse

$81,220/yr median

Faster than average growth

Dental Hygienist

$81,400/yr median

Faster than average growth

Physical Therapist

$95,620/yr median

Much faster than average growth

Pharmacist

$132,750/yr median

About as fast as average growth